都市・場所

東京とうきょうは日本にほんの首都しゅとで世界せかいでも有数ゆうすうの大都市だいとしだ。

Tokyo is the capital of Japan and one of the world's leading big cities.

Usage 首都 = capital city: 首都圏 (the Greater Tokyo area), 首都高 (the Tokyo metropolitan expressway). 都 appears in 東京都 and 京都.

Remember it 首 (head, neck) + 都 (metropolis) → the head city.

マンションより一戸建ていっこだてに住すみたいと思おもっている。

I'd rather live in a detached house than an apartment.

Usage 一戸建て is a detached house, often shortened to 戸建て. マンション is a large apartment building (often owner-occupied); アパート is a small, low-rise apartment block.

Remember it 一 (one) + 戸 (household, door) + 建て (built) → built for one household.

昔むかしながらの商店街しょうてんがいが再ふたたび注目ちゅうもくされている。

Old-fashioned shopping streets are attracting attention again.

Usage 商店街 is a traditional shopping street, often covered, lined with small family-run shops. Many are struggling, and シャッター商店街 describes one with its shutters down.

Remember it 商店 (shops) + 街 (street) → a street of shops.

海外かいがい市場しじょうへの参入さんにゅうを検討けんとうしている。

We're considering entering overseas markets.

Usage Read しじょう, it is a market in the economic sense: 市場調査 (market research), 市場規模 (market size). Read いちば, it is a physical marketplace, like a fish market.

Remember it 市 (city, market) + 場 (place) → the reading decides whether it's an idea or a location.

引っ越しひっこしの後あとは役所やくしょに住所変更じゅうしょへんこうの届とどけを出だす。

After moving, you file a change of address at the local government office.

Usage 役所 is a government office: 市役所 (city hall), 区役所 (ward office), 役所の手続き (paperwork). Small towns have a 役場 (やくば). お役所仕事 means bureaucratic red tape.

Remember it 役 (public service) + 所 (place) → the place of public service.

財布さいふを盗ぬすまれたので警察署けいさつしょに被害届ひがいとどけを出だした。

My wallet was stolen, so I filed a report at the police station.

Usage 警察署 is a police station. The small neighborhood police box is a 交番 (こうばん). 被害届 (ひがいとどけ) is the report you file as a victim. Dial 110 for police in Japan.

Remember it 警察 (police) + 署 (office, station) → the police office.

火事かじの際さいはすぐすぐ消防署しょうぼうしょに連絡れんらくする。

In case of fire, contact the fire station right away.

Usage 消防署 = fire station: 消防士 (firefighter), 消防車 (fire engine), 救急車 (ambulance). Dial 119 for fire and ambulance in Japan.

Remember it 消 (to extinguish) + 防 (to prevent) + 署 (station) → the station that puts out and prevents fires.

山やまを越こえるために長ながいトンネルを通とおった。

To cross the mountains, we went through a long tunnel.

Usage トンネル = tunnel: トンネルを抜ける (come out of a tunnel), 海底トンネル (undersea tunnel). The first line of Kawabata's 'Snow Country' opens with a tunnel.

Remember it From English 'tunnel'.

交通量こうつうりょうが多おおい道路どうろには歩道橋ほどうきょうが必要ひつようだ。

Roads with heavy traffic need pedestrian bridges.

Usage 歩道橋 is a footbridge over a road, very common in Japan. Compare 横断歩道 (crosswalk) and 地下道 (underpass).

Remember it 歩道 (sidewalk) + 橋 (bridge) → a sidewalk that bridges the road.

雨あめの日ひは地下道ちかどうを通とおって駅えきまで行いく。

On rainy days, I walk to the station through the underground passage.

Usage 地下道 is an underground passage for pedestrians. Big stations connect to shopping malls called 地下街 (ちかがい).

Remember it 地下 (underground) + 道 (way) → the underground way.

住所じゅうしょに番地ばんちを忘わすれずに書かいてください。

Please don't forget to write the block number in the address.

Usage 番地 is the lot or block number in a Japanese address, which runs from big to small: 都道府県 → 市区町村 → 丁目 → 番地 → 号. Streets usually have no names.

Remember it 番 (number) + 地 (land) → the number of the plot of land.

方角ほうがくがわからなくてしばらく迷まよってしまった。

I couldn't tell which direction was which and got lost for a while.

Usage 方角 is a compass direction: 北の方角 (northward), 方角がわからない. 方向 (ほうこう) is direction in general, including abstract direction. 方向音痴 = having no sense of direction.

Remember it 方 (direction) + 角 (angle, corner) → the angle you face.

週末しゅうまつの繁華街はんかがいは人ひとで溢あふれていた。

The downtown area was overflowing with people at the weekend.

Usage 繁華街 is a busy entertainment and shopping district, like Shinjuku or Shibuya. Its contrast is 住宅街 (residential streets).

Remember it 繁 (bustling) + 華 (flowery, showy) + 街 (street) → bustling, flashy streets.

閑静かんせいな住宅地じゅうたくちに家いえを構かまえた。

I made my home in a quiet residential area.

Usage 住宅地 is residential land or a residential area: 高級住宅地 (upscale residential area). 住宅街 stresses the streets and neighborhood feel.

Remember it 住宅 (housing) + 地 (land) → land for housing.

都市部としぶでは地価ちかが高たかくて若者わかものが住すみにくい。

In urban areas, land is expensive, making it hard for young people to live there.

Usage 都市部 = urban areas, often contrasted with 地方 (the regions) or 農村部 (rural areas): 都市部に人口が集中する (the population concentrates in cities).

Remember it 都市 (city) + 部 (part) → the city part of the country.

郊外こうがいに引っ越ひっこして通勤つうきんが長ながくなった。

I moved to the suburbs and my commute got longer.

Usage 郊外 = the suburbs: 郊外に住む, 郊外型店舗 (out-of-town stores). 近郊 stresses being close to the city.

Remember it 郊 (outskirts) + 外 (outside) → outside, on the outskirts.

過疎地かそちでは人口じんこうが減りへりインフラインフラの維持いじが難むずかしい。

In depopulated areas, the population is falling and it's hard to maintain infrastructure.

Usage 過疎地 is a depopulated area, a major issue in rural Japan: 過疎化 (depopulation). Its opposite is 過密 (overcrowding).

Remember it 過 (too) + 疎 (sparse) + 地 (area) → an area too sparse.

老朽化ろうきゅうかした地区ちくの再開発さいかいはつが進すすんでいる。

Redevelopment of the run-down district is under way.

Usage 再開発 = redevelopment: 駅前の再開発 (redevelopment around the station), 再開発計画. 開発 alone means development: 新製品の開発.

Remember it 再 (again) + 開発 (development) → developing again.

商業地域しょうぎょうちいきでは高いたかいビルビルが立ち並ぶたちならぶ。

In commercial districts, tall buildings stand side by side.

Usage 商業地域 is a commercial zone in city planning, alongside 住居地域 (residential zones) and 工業地域 (industrial zones).

Remember it 商業 (commerce) + 地域 (area) → the commerce area.

工業地帯こうぎょうちたいでは工場こうじょうが集中しゅうちゅうして大気汚染たいきおせんが問題もんだいになりやすい。

In industrial zones, factories are concentrated and air pollution easily becomes a problem.

Usage 工業地帯 is a large industrial belt: 京浜工業地帯 (the Tokyo–Yokohama belt), 中京工業地帯. 地帯 means zone or belt: 安全地帯.

Remember it 工業 (industry) + 地帯 (zone, belt) → the industry belt.

静しずかな住宅街じゅうたくがいに小ちいさな公園こうえんがある。

There's a small park in the quiet residential neighborhood.

Usage 住宅街 is a residential neighborhood: 閑静な住宅街 (a quiet residential area, a stock phrase in real estate ads). Compare 繁華街, the lively downtown.

Remember it 住宅 (houses) + 街 (streets) → streets of houses.

駅えき近くちかくの立地りっちは商売しょうばいに有利ゆうりだ。

A location near the station is an advantage for business.

Usage 立地 is a site or location, judged for business or living: 立地がいい, 立地条件 (location factors), 駅近の立地. 場所 (ばしょ) is simply a place.

Remember it 立 (to stand) + 地 (ground) → the ground a building stands on.

交通こうつうの便べんがいいエリアは家賃やちんが高たかい。

Areas with good transport links have high rents.

Usage 交通の便 = transport access: 交通の便がいい / 悪い. 便 means convenience: 便利 (convenient), 不便 (inconvenient). Don't confuse it with 便 (びん), a flight.

Remember it 交通 (transport) + 便 (convenience) → how convenient transport is.

都心としんの地価ちかは年々ねんねん上昇じょうしょうしている。

Land prices in central Tokyo rise year after year.

Usage 地価 = land price: 地価が上がる / 下がる, 地価の高騰 (soaring land prices). The Japanese asset bubble of the late 1980s was largely a 地価 bubble.

Remember it 地 (land) + 価 (price) → land price.

地盤じばんが軟弱なんじゃくな地域ちいきでは地震じしんの被害ひがいが大きいおおきい。

In areas with soft ground, earthquake damage is greater.

Usage 地盤 is the ground beneath a building: 地盤が弱い, 地盤沈下 (subsidence). Figuratively, a power base: 選挙の地盤 (a politician's constituency base).

Remember it 地 (earth) + 盤 (base, board) → the earth base.

市街地しがいちでは駐車場ちゅうしゃじょうが少すくなくて困こまる。

In the city center, there are few parking lots, which is a problem.

Usage 市街地 is a built-up urban area: 市街地を走る (drive through town), 市街地図 (street map). 郊外 lies outside it.

Remember it 市街 (city streets) + 地 (area) → the area of city streets.

景観けいかんを守まもるために建物たてものの高たかさに制限せいげんがある。

To protect the scenery, there are limits on building heights.

Usage 景観 is a landscape or townscape as something to protect: 景観を守る, 景観条例 (landscape ordinance). Kyoto limits building heights and signs to protect its 景観.

Remember it 景 (scenery) + 観 (view) → the view of the scenery.

廃墟はいきょになった建物たてものが観光地かんこうちとして人気にんきになっている。

An abandoned building has become popular as a tourist spot.

Usage 廃墟 are ruins or abandoned buildings: 廃墟と化す (fall into ruin). Gunkanjima (軍艦島) is Japan's most famous 廃墟. 遺跡 are archaeological ruins.

Remember it 廃 (abandoned) + 墟 (ruins) → abandoned ruins.

都心としんから離はなれた場所ばしょに引っ越ひっこして生活費せいかつひが下さがった。

I moved away from the city center and my living costs went down.

Usage 都心 is the heart of a big city, especially central Tokyo: 都心に住む, 都心部. 都心回帰 (returning to the center) describes people moving back into the city.

Remember it 都 (metropolis) + 心 (heart) → the heart of the metropolis.

地域ちいきの繁栄はんえいのために観光業かんこうぎょうを発展はってんさせる。

We're developing tourism for the prosperity of the region.

Usage 繁栄 = prosperity: 繁栄する, 繁栄を築く. Its opposite is 衰退 (decline). 子孫繁栄 means a family flourishing through the generations.

Remember it 繁 (flourishing) + 栄 (glory) → flourishing in glory.

地方都市ちほうとしの衰退すいたいが全国ぜんこくで問題もんだいになっている。

The decline of regional cities has become a problem across the country.

Usage 衰退 = decline: 衰退する, 衰退の一途をたどる (keep declining). Its opposite is 繁栄 or 発展. 少子化 (the falling birthrate) is often blamed for it.

Remember it 衰 (to weaken) + 退 (to retreat) → weakening and retreating.

東京とうきょうの過密かみつな状況じょうきょうを解消かいしょうするために地方移住ちほういじゅうを促進そくしんする。

To ease overcrowding in Tokyo, relocation to the regions is being encouraged.

Usage 過密 = overcrowded: 過密都市, 過密スケジュール (a packed schedule). Its opposite is 過疎 (depopulated).

Remember it 過 (too) + 密 (dense) → too dense.

地方ちほうに移住いじゅうして自然しぜんの中なかで暮くらすのが夢ゆめだ。

My dream is to move to the countryside and live surrounded by nature.

Usage 移住 is moving to live somewhere new, often for good: 地方移住, 海外移住. 引越し is the everyday move from one home to another.

Remember it 移 (to move) + 住 (to live) → moving where you live.

限界集落げんかいしゅうらくでは高齢者こうれいしゃが65%ろくじゅうごぱーせんとを超こえている。

In some marginal villages, people aged 65 and over make up more than 65% of the population.

Usage 限界集落 is a village where over half the residents are 65 or older, at risk of disappearing. It is a key term in essays on rural Japan.

Remember it 限界 (limit) + 集落 (settlement) → a settlement at its limit.

高度経済成長期こうどけいざいせいちょうきに建設けんせつされたニュータウンが老朽化ろうきゅうかしている。

The new towns built during the high-growth era are getting old.

Usage ニュータウン are planned suburban towns built mostly in the 1960s–80s, like Tama New Town. Many now face aging residents and aging buildings (老朽化).

Remember it From English 'new town', the planned suburbs of the boom years.

区画整理くかくせいりによって道路どうろが整備せいびされ住みやすくすみやすくなった。

Thanks to land readjustment, the roads were improved and the area became more livable.

Usage 区画整理 is reorganizing land plots to straighten roads and add parks: 土地区画整理事業. 区画 is a plot or section; 整理 is putting in order.

Remember it 区画 (plots) + 整理 (putting in order) → putting the plots in order.

東京とうきょう近郊きんこうの街まちは住すみやすいと評判ひょうばんだ。

Towns on the outskirts of Tokyo have a reputation for being easy to live in.

Usage 近郊 is the area close around a city: 東京近郊, 近郊農業 (farming near cities). 郊外 is the suburbs more generally.

Remember it 近 (near) + 郊 (outskirts) → the near outskirts.

人口じんこうの分散ぶんさんを促うながすために地方ちほうの魅力みりょくを高たかめる。

To encourage the population to spread out, the regions are being made more attractive.

Usage 分散 = dispersal: 分散する, 人口分散, リスク分散 (spreading risk), 分散投資 (diversified investment). Its opposite is 集中 (concentration).

Remember it 分 (to divide) + 散 (to scatter) → dividing and scattering.